Depression

• What are the 3 behavioural characteristics of depression?

  • Activity levels (low)
  • Disrupted sleeping & eating patterns
  • Aggression and self harm
• what are the3 cognitive characteristics of depression?

  • poor concentration
  • Absolutist thinking
  • dwelling on negative things
• What are the 3 emotional characteristics of depression?

  • low mood
  • anger
  • low self esteem
• depression is defined as a mental disorder characterised by low mood or low energy levels for a period of time
• one treatment of depression of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Becks version of CBT involves identifying negative thoughts in relation to themselves their future and the world around them. These negative thoughts are challenged by discussing evidence for and against them.
• ellis' rational emotive behavioural therapy (CBT) consists of the A,B,C,D,E model- A- activating event, B- beliefs, C- consequences, D- dispute, E- effect. patient's irrational thoughts are challenged and they are presented with ways of rational thinking.
• ellis' rational emotive behavioural therapy (CBT) uses 2 methods to dispute patient's irrational thoughts: empirical arguments= therapist seeks evidence from patient to support their ways of thinking. logical arguments= therapist questions patients logic, this could involve shame-attacking exercises
• both Ellis' and Beck's CBT involves behavioural activation which consists of increasing patients engagement in activities that improve their mood and decrease avoidance
• one explanation of depression is the cognitive explanation which states that depression is caused by faulty thinking and negative/irrational thoughts
• beck explains depression by- faulty information processing, negative self schemas and the negative triad
• faulty information processing (becks explanation)= those with depression tend to ignore positives and focus on the negatives. e.g- absolutist thinking, catastrophising and personalisation
• negative self schema (becks explanation of depression)= negative beliefs about oneself, such as being worthless, people with depression often have negative self schemas
• becks negative triad= negative view of the world, negative view of self, negative view of future
• ABC model (ellis' explanation of depression)= A-activating event, which trigger B- irrational beliefs, which leads to C- consequences, emotional or behavioural
• limitation of ABC model-Full explanation- not all cases of depression have an activating event, ellis' CBT focuses on an activation event so won't be effective for all types of depression
• overgeneralisation (cognitive distortion) = taking one instance and applying it to everything else
• beck believed that some people were more vulnerable to depression than others - their cognitions create this vulnerability (faulty info processing, negative triad, negative schema)
• beck's explanation has real life applications - Cohen et al concluded that assessing cognitive vulnerability allows us to identify people most at risk of developing depression in future
• limitation of ellis' explanation of depression - only explains reactive depression (triggered by an event) but cannot explain endogenous depression (depression that develops for no particular reason) - means it is not a full explanation
• ellis' ABC model is socially insensitive - it places the responsibility on the depressed person (activating event) which could potentially worsen their condition
• becks CBT may involve giving patients homework - investigating the the reality of their negative beliefs and proving them as incorrect
• supportive evidence to show CBT as effective - March et al - compared CBT to antidepressants and also a combination of the 2. After 36 weeks, 81% of the CBT group had significantly improved, 81% of the antidepressant group had also improved but 86% of the combo group had improved. So CBT is just as effective as drug therapy and also more cost effective
• limitation of CBT - high relapse rates - research has shown 42% of clients relapsed 6 months after treatment - success may depend more on the quality of the patient-therapist relationship
• According to Ellis, (A) Activating Events, refers to people becoming depressed when they experience negative events, (B) a range of irrational thoughts and (C) for 'consequences' when an event triggers irrational beliefs there are behavioural and emotional consequences